Non-covalent surface interactions between silicone and biological macromolecules yield bioreactive substances

While most organometallics enter the environment through their industrial release, silicones are organometallic compounds purposefully introduced in high volume directly into healthy humans. A chemically centered study of the behavior of silicones in the biological environment reveals numerous degradative reactions and surface interactions that can produce bioreactive substances. Data from a variety of disciplines suggest that the preponderance of evidence supports the argument that silicone is a toxic organometallic. (C) 1997 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.